Newspaper dispensing apparatus



Nov. 13, 1962 Filed May 19, 1960 W. BURDIS ETAL.

NEWSPAPER DISPENSING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 13, 1962 w. BuRDls ETAL NEWSPAPER DISPENSING `APPARATUS H7' TURA/EY Nov. 13, 1962 w. BuRDxs ETAL 3,063,597

NEWSPAPER DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed May 19, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 1N V EN TOR` A// L /HM fafa/' By ffii/Cl 6. Jaarv- A-r raler/cf rates *A 3,063,597 NEWSPAPER DISPENSING APPARATUS William Bnrdis, Royal Oak, Mich. (140 W. Hamlin,

Rochester, Mich.), and Frederick G. Scott, 2435 Littletell Ave., Pontiac, Mich.

Filed May 19, 196%, Ser. No. 39,172 2 Claims. (Ci. 221-36) The invention pertains to an apparatus which, from a stack of newspapers contained therein, will deliver a single copy of a newspaper in response to the operation of a lever actuated manually or by means of a pedal.

The apparatus may be combined with a mechanism which will permit the operation of the dispensing apparatus only upon insertion into said mechanism of a coin or a number of coins amounting to the price of a single copy of such a newspaper. However, as the means for reception of such coins and the means for locking a vending mechanism against operation unless coins to the proper amount have been inserted thereinto are well known, our invention is directed only to the dispensing mechanism which is self-contained and which will operate irrespective of whether it will be controlled by said coin-receiving mechanism or whether it will have no relation to such mechanism whatever.

We shall now describe our invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. l is a rear elevational view of my apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the apparatus as seen from the left side of FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is the same side elevational view of the apparatus as shown in FIG. 3, but shown with its elements in different operative positions;

FIG. 5 is a top view of a detail of structure as seen from line 5 5 in FIG. l;

FIG. 6 is a top elevational view of a pick-up assembly forming a part of my apparatus, parts of some elements being shown in fragment;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view thereof;

. FIG. 8 isan end view of said pick-up assembly;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of a mechanism at one end of said assembly;

FIG. 10 is the bottom view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 1l shows the same bottom view as said FIG. l0, but discloses two elements in different operative positions;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a glider which for-ms a part of the above-described mechanism, a part of the glider being broken off for a better disclosure of its structure;

FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of the pick-up assembly;

FIG. 14 is a top elevational view thereof;

FIG. l5 is a perspective View of a horizontal beam and other elements forming a part ofthe pick-up assembly;

FIG. 16 is a diagrammatic presentation of means serving to pick up a newspaper.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several Views.

The apparatus as a whole has the shape of a rectangular cabinet generally marked 10, the cabinet being supported by a pair of legs `11 at the front and by a similar pair of legs at the rear. Extending from one of said legs laterally,-

at the rear of the apparatus, as shown in FIG. 1, is a horizontal rail 12 reinforced by a Vertical web 13.

Mounted on the rail is a vertical post 14 which extendsto the top of the cabinet and lits into a bracket 15.v

Mounted on the post, for a vertical movement thereon, is a tubular sleeve 16, the latter being provided at its base with a horizontal flange 17.

is a vertically-disposed plate 18 which rserves as a bracket l for support from below of a horizontally-disposed platform 19. A heavy spring 20 is coiled about the post 14. The lower end of the spring bears from below against the flange 17 of the sleeve 16. Numeral 21 indicates a stack of newspapers deposited on said platform.

lournalled within brackets 22 mounted on the front legs 11 is a horizontal shaft 23, and secured thereto at each end is an upwardly-extending standard 24. Each of the standards is provided at the top with a transverse head 25.

The latter serves as a support for a pick-up assembly designed to lift single copies of newspapers and to deliver them out of the cabinet. The assembly includes a mechanism mounted above one 0f the standards, a similar mechanism mounted above the other standard, a single housing for both mechanisms, and means extending from one mechanism to the other for synchronized operation of both.

In describing the mechanisms we shall refer to the one shown at the right end in FIG. 6. It includes all the elements shown in the mechanism disclosed at the left end of FIG. 6, but in addition thereto has other elements which will be described herein. We will start the 4description beginning with the mounting plate 26 by means of whichl the mechanism at the right hand of FIG. 6 is mounted upon the head 25 of the respective standard 24. The

mounting plate is best shown in FIG. 11 vwhich discloses4 the apparatus, is a bar 27 which, midway its length, is depressed, as shown at 28. Another similar bar 29, extending parallel to said rst named bar 27, is disclosed on said plate along its opposite edge as shown in FIG. 9. Mounted upon `both said bars, crosswise thereto, is a pair of rails 30. The rails straddle the depression 28 forming a track for a sliding member or glider to which we shall presently refer.

Supported on the bar 27, and pivotally -secured thereto at one end by means of a bolt 31, is a flat nger 32 which extends beyond the inner edge of said mounting plate, inwardly towards the mid portion of the apparatus as shown in FIGS. 6 and 11. The outer portion of the finger remote from its pivotal connection lto said plate 26, is provided on its under side with a plurality of short and sharp pins marked 33.

Mounted upon said rails 30l and extending over said fingers is a rectangular top plate34, which along one end is aligned with the mounting plate but extends beyond the opposite end thereof and juts outwardly along each side of said mounting plate as best shown in FIG. 6, is provided with a rectangular slot 35 opening into the plate from what will be called its outer end 36. Secured to said plate 34 along each side of the slot, is a vertical Wall 37 which at said outer end of the plate includes a vertical standard `38. Fitting between said walls 37 is the above said glider, generally marked 39. The glider which with other elements connected thereto is shown best in FIG. 12, includes a flat bottom 40 and -two upwardly extending side walls 41, the latter being in a sliding contact with the above named walls 37. Integrally connected to the rear ends of the respective side walls 41 of the glider are two opposed ears 42, each being provided with a horizontal bore 43. The bores are aligned with each other for reception of a transversely disposed pin 44. Extending downwardlyfrom the rear end of the glider and located directly beneath said ears 42 is a block 45, the lower end of which is welded to a horizontal strip 4,6,

. extending transversely to said ears 42. Secured to each Patented Nov. 13, 1962 Disposed on said plate 26 along itsk outer edge, in the direction from the front to the rear of end of the strip at right angle thereto is a prong 47, the two prongs bearing laterally against the respective rails and resting within the depressed portion of the bar 27 as shown in FIG. 8. The relative positions of the prongs with respect to the glider are best illustrated in FIG. l2. It will be seen that the prongs extend forwardly from what is the rear end of the glider and that they are connected to the glider so as to form a unit therewith.

Supported by the standards 38 is an L-shaped lever fulcrumed upon a horizontal pin 49, one arm of the lever forming a horizontal strike bar marked 50 while the other arm 51 is secured pivotally by means of a transverse shaft 44 to said ears 42.

The bottom 40 of the glider contains a longitudinal slot 52 extending parallel to the sides of the glider midway its walls 41 but curves in its front end portion into a lateral extension 53.

Mounted upon the top plate 34 forwardly of said glider to one side thereof is a flat V-shaped member 54 which, at its constricted end, is pivotally secured to the plate by a rivet 55. One arm 56 of the member is disposed over an arcuate aperture 57 in said top plate and is connected through said aperture to the iinger 32 by means of a screw S. The iinger as already stated is disposed under said top plate 34 and is held in place at one end by means of a bolt 31 which also serves as a means of joining the top plate 34 to the base plate 26 and to the members disposed therebetween. The other arm 60 of said V-shaped member 54 terminates with a circular tip 61 which lits into a correspondingly-shaped recess 62 in another flat but substantially rectangular member 63. The latter is pivotally secured at one corner to the top of the plate 34 by Va rivet 55a at a point symmetrically opposed to the rivet 55 on a line parallel to the front end of the plate 34.

The member 63 is attached by means of a screw 58a to another finger 32 which is pivotally held inplace by a bolt 31a. Said member 63 is connected to the lastnamed finger located under the plate 34 through an arcuate aperture similar to aperture 57. A part of the member 63 is positioned beneath the bottom 40 of the glider 31. Projecting from said bottom 140 upwardly into the slot 52 in said bottom 4i) is a short pin 64. Each side wall of the glider-is provided on its interior face with a bearing 65 for support of a transverse member 66 whereby the glider is connected to one end of a rod 67. The other end of the rod is pivotally connected to one end of a horizontal beam 68 which, intermediate its ends, is pivotally mounted upon a vertical arbor 69 to which we shall return presently. l

The above description pertaining to the mechanism at one end of the pick-up assembly and mounted directly upon one of the standards 24 pertains to a lsimilar mechanism supported by the other standard 24, except that the last-named mechanism does not include a lever such as lever 50. Both of these mechanisms are vcovered from the top by a sheet metal housing marked 70 in FIGS. 6 to 8. The housing, having the form of an inverted oblong pan, is defined by a iiat top 71 and two side walls 72, each having an outwardly-extending flange 73. The flanges, restingon small rectangular spacers 59 best shown in FIG. 6, are provided at each end with holes for application of the already-identified bolts 31 and 55', respectively, whereby the housing is held in place.

Secured to the anges on the underside of the housing, intermediate its ends, is a rectangular plate 74. Centrally located thereon is a socket 75 for reception of said arbor 69 which at its upper end fits into a hole 76 in the top 71 of said housing.

As already stated, one end of the beam mounted on said arbor is connected by a rod to the glider shown at the right in FIG. 6. The other end of the beam is similarly connected to one end of a rod 67a which at its other end is connected to the glider 39a at the opposite end of the pick-up assembly. An arm 77, extending from said beam 68 at right angle thereto, is joined pivotally to a short rod 78. Mounted on one flange 73 of the housing is an L plate 79, including a vertical member which is disposed in a spaced relation to the side wall of the housing. The above-said rod 78 projects outwardly from the housing through an opening in its wall and through an opening in said vertical member 80, as best shown in FIGS. 6, 13, andlll.

To conclude the description of the pick-up mechanism, we wish to add that secured to each top plate 34, on the underside thereof, is a stationary metal pad 81 located intermediate the two grippers, the pad being provided with a plurality of short and sharp pins 82 projecting downwardly. Y, v

The pick-up assembly, generally identified by numeral 100, is composed of two similar mechanisms, one of which is mounted on one standard 24 and the other on the opposite standard. The two mechanisms are covered by the above-described housing which extends transversely with respect to the front of the apparatus, the operative parts of the two mechanisms being in contact with the uppermost in the stack of the newspapers 21 supported on the platform 19.

The end portions of the pick-up assembly project outwardly through the side walls of the apparatus, which side Walls include forwardly-projecting side panels 83. Each of said side panels is provided with an arcuate slot 84, the two slots forming guide ways for the pick-up assembly towards a transverse stop bar 85. The latter is secured at each end to the respective panel for encounter with the outer end of the rod 78 projecting forwardly of said pickup assembly.

Pivotally connected to `the framework of the apparatus, at the rear and to one lside thereof, as shown at 86, is an arm 87 which, by means of a spring 88, is kept in its normal position extending forwardly at an angle over the strike bar Sil of the pickup assembly 100. The arm passes through a narrow `slot in a bow-shaped guiding strip 89 which, it its lower end, is welded to a stationary bracket 90. Formingan integral part of the strip, at its upper end, is a web 911, and pivotally mounted the-rein is a dog 92.

At the outer end, said arm 87 is equipped with a roller 93, and at a point spaced from said roller, the arm is provided with a short pin 94 which extends laterally therefrom.

Supported within bearings 95 which'are mounted on two lrear legs 11, as shown in FIG. l1, is a shaft 96. Extending from one end of the Vshaft is a radial arm 97, best shown in FIG. 3, which at its outer end is connected by a r-od 9-8 to said. arm `87, asshown at 99. Secured to the same shaft 96, in a radial relationrthereto, is a pedal 101 which extends to the front of the apparatus and isequipped with a pad 102 by means of which the pedal may be depressed. It will be understood that the pedal serves to imparta limited rotary movement to the shaft 96 .about itsl axis, and that the arm 97, being connected to -said shaft, will move in unison with said pedal. A coiled spring 102er, attached at one end to said pedal, extends upwardly .into the framework of the apparatus, and is connected there at the other end which is not shown, the object being to hold the pedal normally in its upwardly-swung position, as shown in FIG. 3.

Pivotally secured to arm l97 is one end of a short link 103, its other end being connected to a vertical rod 104. The rod, as shown in FIG. l, is disposed within bearings 105 mounted on the rear wall 106 of the apparatus, and includes a length in its upper portion which is serrated, as shown at 107. YAt the top the rod carries a radially-extending horizontal member 108 whereby the rod may be turned about its axis. k.For this purpose said member 108 is connected by a short wire 109 with a V- shaped crank 1.10 which is pivotally supported by a bracket 112, as shown in FIGS. l and 5. Said crank 110 is, in turn, joined by means of a wire 1.13 to one end of said dog 92, best shown in FIG. 3.

Pivotally attached at one end to a bracket 114, on one side of the apparatus, at the rear portion thereof, as shown in FIG. 3, is a link 115 which, with another link 1-16, forms a toggle for the operation of a crank 117. At the point of their connection to each other, the two links form a knee joint, yas shown at i118. The crank 117, which at one end is secured to one end of said link 116, as shown at 119, is secured at the other end to said shaft in a radial relation thereto. It is this shaft which supports the standards 24, the latter serving to carry at their tops the above-described .pick-up assembly. Attached to each standard 24 is one end of -a coiled spring 48 which at its other end is connected to the frame of the apparatus.

To complete the -description of the apparatus, we wish to refer again to the sleeve 16, shown best in FIG. l. Extending laterally from said sleeve, and disposed in a vertical plane, is a plate 120, delined, in part, by a vertical edge which is formed into a rack 121 for engagement with the serrated length 107 of the rod 104.

We wish also to refer to the front lportion of the apparatus, and especially to the side panels S3, each of which is provided with an arcuate slot 84. Disposed transversely between said panels, and supported thereby, is what may be called a sheet metal apron 122, delining an arcuate support for single copies of a newspaper as said copies are delivered, one by one, from the interior of the cabinet by said pick-up mechanism.

We shall now describe the operation of our said apparatus:

It will be understood that the apparatus is provided with a door or lanother suitable opening through which a stack `of newspapers may be deposited upon the pil-atform `19. A door 'of this type is not shown, but in the apparatus described herein it may be located on the right side of the apparatus as seen from the rear in FIG. Fl. As the platform is supported by the sleeve 16, which, in turn, is supported by a heavy coiled spring 20, the spring acting upon the sleeve will lift the platform with the newspapers deposited thereon, till the uppermost of said papers will bear against the underside of the pickup assembly. As a result, it will be the lingers 32 of the pick-up mechanism, at the opposite ends of said pick-up assembly, which will be in contact with said topmost paper. This position of the pick-up assembly, marked 100, with respect to the stack of newspapers on said platform 19 is shown in FIG. 2.

As already stated herein, the apparatus was designed for use in combination with a coin-controlled mechanism which ordinarily keeps the dispensing apparatus locked. Now, assuming that the apparatus has been unlocked and that a person wants to obtain a copy of a newspaper, said person has to depress the pedal 101 from its normal position shown in FIG. 3 to the position shown in FIG. 4. As the pedal is depressed against the tension of the spring 102a to the position shown in FIG. 4, the arm 97 secured to the shaft 96, which is turned about its axis by said pedal 102, will move with the pedal to the horizontal position shown in FIG. 4. The rod 98, secured to the end of said arm 97, will pull the arm I87 downwardly. The outer end of the arm 87 will'strike the bar 50 of the lever fulcrumed in standards 38 and depress it downwardly. The other arm 51 of said lever will shift the glider 39 from its position 'at the outer edge of top plate 34 inwardly towards the other end of the pick-up assembly. In the course of said movement the pin 64, which projects upwardly through the slot `52 in the bottom 40 of said glider, will be forced from its normal position in the right angle portion extension 53 of the slot into the portion which is parallel to the sides of the glider. As the pin is mounted upon the underlying member 63, said member will be swivelled about the rivet 55a and will turn the linger 32 disposed under said plate 34 from its normal position 32, shown in dotted 6 lines in FIG. `6 and in solid lines in FIG. lil, to ra new position shown in dotted lines 32a in said FIG. ll. A similar turn of the other ringer under the same plate 34 will be brought about by the swing of the other member 60, one `arm of which tits into the recess l62 in said member `63.

As the lingers rest on the newspaper at the top of the stack of papers 21, the pins 33 on the underside of each linger will engage the top sheets of the uppermost copy of the newspaper, and in their converging movement will shift the portions of the sheets immediately beneath said ylingers toward the pad 81. The pad is in a stationary position, it pins 82 impinging against the newspaper from above .and holding it against movement. As the result of the swing of the grippers towards each other, an upward curl wiil be formed in the uppermost sheets of papers on each side of the stationary pad 81. This is shown in the diagram in FIG. 16 in which numeral l123 indicates a newspaper, numeral 81 indicates the stationary pad under the top plate 34, `and numerals 32a indicate the movable lingers, while numeral 124 indicates a curl formed in the sheets on each side yof the pad by the movements of the lingers towards -said pad.

Moving with said glider are two horizontally-disposed prongs 47 which in the course of the movement of said glider as effected by said lever 48 will enter into said curls 124 so that the top sheets of the paper will be held from the top by said lingers and the pad, and from below by said prongs 47. As the glider, equipped with the lever 48, is connected to the beam 68 shown in FIGS. 6 and 15, the forward movement of said glider wall, by means of said beam and the rod 67a, bring about a similar movement of the glider at the opposite end of the pick-up assembly. Said lastnamed glider and the elements actuated thereby are shown at the left end of FIG. 6. The glider therein is also equipped with identical prongs 47 and identical lingers as those described herein, so that as a result the newspaper will be seized by the prongs and the fingers at both ends of the pick-up assembly.

Now we shall return to the arm 87 in its downward Y swing in responseto the depression of the pedal 10'1. After the arm has depressed and passed the strike bar 50', the short lateral pin 94 on said arm will encounter the lower portion of the dog 92, shown best at the top of FIG. 3. The dog, connected by wire 113 with the crank 1110, shown in FIG. 5, and, thereby, to member 108, will turn the rod 104, best shown in FIG, l, about its axis to bring the serrated portion 107 into engagement with the teeth of rack 121 at the vertical edge of member 120. The rod described above is at its lower end connected to the radial arm 97 mounted on the shaft 96, and moving in unison with the pedal 101. As the pedal is being depressed, the arm 97 moving with it will exert a downward pull on the link 103, and by means of said link and the rod 104 upon the sleeve 16 against the tension of said spring 20. As the sleeve supports the platform with the papers thereon, the lowering of the table will relieve the uppermost paper from the frictional contact with the papers underneath to permit the pick-up assembly to shift the paper outwardly towards the front of the apparatus. This is effected, as follows, by the movement of the standards 24 which support said pick-up mechanism. After the arm 87 has depressed said dog 92, the roller 93 at the outer end of said arm will encounter the two links and 116 at their junction at 118, and will depress both links downwardly from the position shown in FIG. 3 to the position shown in FIG. 4. The downward movement of the link 116 will impart an arcuate swing in an anti-clockwise direction to the crank 117, and thereby twill impart a limited rotary movement in the same direction to the shaft 23 which supports said two standards 24. As a result thereof, the standards, also swinging in the same direction, will carry the pick-up assembly through the slots 84 in the side panels 83 from the position shown in FIG. 3 to the position in FIG. 4, and past said position. This '7 will bring the end of the rod 78, projecting out of the housing of the pick-up assembly, into encounter with the stop bar 85.

The rod 78, as shown in FIG. 6,` is connected to the beam 68, the ends of which are pivotally joined to the two rods 67 and 67a respectively. The gliders move towards each other, the beam 68 is swivelled upon its supporting arbor 69. -As a result thereof, the arm 77, connected to the beam, moves the rod 78 outwardly so that it projects beyond the upward flange 80 of plate 79 which is secured to the housing of the pick-up assembly. When, however, the assembly is brought towards the stop bar 85 disposed crosswise in the slots 84 of the side panels 83, the rod 7S, encountering said stop bar, is pushed back, causing the beam to reverse its direction. This, in turn, imparts a clockwise turn to the beam, the beam pushes the rods 67 and 67a outwardly in opposite directions, and shifts the gliders back to their original positions. This causes the prongs 47 to slide outwardly from the Vcurls in the upper sheets of the newspaper which, because of that, is allowed to drop down by gravity on the underlying apron 112. From said apron the paper may be lifted by hand or may slide into a suitable receptacle or chute.

On release of the pedal, the spring 20 again lifts the table, with the stack of' papers, into engagement with the pick-np assembly which is returned back to its normal position, as shown in FIG. 2, by standards 24 under the pull of the springs 48.

After having described our apparatus, what we wish to claim is as follows:

l. A newspaper-dispensin g apparatus including a frame- Work having an enclosed cabinet therein, said cabinet having a front portion provided with a transverse horizontal aperture, a vertically movable platform in said cabinet for .support of a stack of newspapers thereon, a pick-upV assembly disposed transversely Vover the newspapers resting on said platform, 1spring means urging the platform upwardly to bring the papers for contact from below with said pickup assembly a pick-up mechanism at one end of said assembly slidably mounted thereon including a plurality of prongs adapted to enter between the sheets of the topmost of the newspapers at right angles to one of its side edges, a similar pick-up mechanism oppositely disposed at the other end of the pick-up assembly slidably mounted thereon and including a plurality of prongs adapted t'o enter between the sheets at right angles to its opposite side edge, a, plurality ofngers' in each mechanism adapted to bear against saidv sheets from above to effect a hold of said sheets between said prongs and said fingers, means interconnecting said pick-up mechanisms for simultaneous opposed inward and successive outward movements, two vertical standards for support of the pickup assembly at its opposite ends, each of the standards being pivotally secured at its lower end to the framework, a manually operative lever means pivoted on the framework, and intermediate linkage means pivotally mounted on said framework actuated by said lever means to move each pick-up mechanism and its prongs and lingers for engagement with the sheets of the topmost newspaper from its opposite side and to successively swing the standards with said pick-up assembly forwardly for delivery and ejection of the newspaper through said aperture.

2. In a newspaper-dispensing apparatus, a pick-up assembly disposed over a stack of newspapers, the assembly including a pick-up mechanism at one and to one side of the top paper in the stack, another pick-up mechanism at the other end of the assembly and to the other side of said newspaper, a member connecting said mechanisms to form a unit, each of the mechanisms including a plate, two fingers disposed under the plate, the iingers being each pivotally connected atl one end to the plate, while the other or outer end of each finger is in a grasping contact wtih the top sheets ofthe paper for buckling portions thereof, a glider mounted upon said plate for movement at right angle to one side of the adjoining paper, two parallel prongs connectedV to the glider and disposed under the plate, a lever supported above the plate of one of the mechanisms to impart a sliding movement to the glider, with said prongs, in the direction of the paper and for entry between the buckled' portions and the sheets thereof, means mounted on said plate and actuated by the glider to impart to the fingers a converging movement towards each other effecting said buckling action, and means connecting the lever-actuated glider of one mechanism with the glider of the opposite mechanism tb obtain synchronized movement of both.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,151,347 Dueber Aug. 24, 1915 1,229,054 Fife et al. June 5, 1917 1,434,061 Lewis Oct. 31, 192-2 1,857,074 Wright et al May 3, 1932 1,886,694I Kelly Nov. 8, 1932 2,263,040 Kaltenbach Nov. 18, 1941 

